Symantec was once a dominant name in the SSL/TLS certificate industry. However, following the revocation of trust by major browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox due to compliance issues, Symantec’s SSL business was acquired and rebranded under DigiCert. In 2025, many website owners and IT professionals are still searching for reliable and transparent alternatives that deliver modern features, faster issuance, automation support, and better pricing.
Whether you’re running an enterprise website or managing security for multiple clients, choosing the right SSL provider is critical to ensure trust, compliance, and performance. This guide explores the top alternatives to Symantec SSL in 2025, including both premium and budget-friendly options, along with key features and migration tips to help you make an informed switch.
Why You Need an Alternative to Symantec SSL
Symantec was once a dominant name in the SSL certificate space. However, starting in 2017, the trustworthiness of Symantec’s Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) came under fire after widespread industry concerns around improper certificate issuance practices. By 2018, major browser vendors including Google and Mozilla announced a staged distrust of all Symantec-issued SSL certificates. This move significantly impacted millions of websites that relied on Symantec for security and trust indicators.
Although DigiCert acquired Symantec’s certificate authority operations and reissued certificates under a more secure and compliant infrastructure, the damage to Symantec’s SSL reputation had already taken root. Many site owners found themselves confused by the migration process, facing unexpected certificate reissuance requirements, disruption in service, and a lack of consistent communication during the transition period.
Fast forward to 2025, and the digital certificate ecosystem has evolved rapidly. Security-conscious organizations are no longer willing to rely on legacy SSL providers with a controversial history. They demand faster validation processes, robust automation support, flexible certificate types, and seamless renewal options. Symantec-branded SSL certificates—though technically absorbed by DigiCert—are still associated with historical distrust and confusion.
There are also practical reasons to explore alternatives. Modern SSL providers now offer:
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Streamlined domain and organization validation with fast turnaround times
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Full support for ACME protocol to automate SSL lifecycle management
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Competitive pricing structures that reduce total cost of ownership
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Centralized dashboards for managing multi-domain and wildcard certificates
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Responsive customer support tailored to businesses of all sizes
Switching to a trusted modern CA ensures you’re aligned with current browser requirements, improves operational efficiency, and guarantees your SSL strategy supports both security and scalability. Whether you’re managing a small website or securing infrastructure at scale, looking beyond Symantec is no longer optional—it’s a strategic necessity.
Best Alternative: SSL.com
When evaluating replacements for legacy certificate providers like Symantec, SSL.com consistently stands out as a top-tier alternative. Known for its robust certificate portfolio, affordability, and automation-first approach, SSL.com is trusted by thousands of businesses and developers globally.
Unlike Symantec’s deprecated and rebranded offerings, SSL.com provides a fresh, modern PKI infrastructure that meets the highest standards of browser compliance and cybersecurity best practices.
Comprehensive Certificate Options
SSL.com offers the full spectrum of SSL/TLS certificate types to meet diverse security needs:
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Domain Validation (DV): Ideal for blogs, microsites, and small businesses
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Organization Validation (OV): Provides business identity assurance
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Extended Validation (EV): Enables the green address bar and enhances user trust
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Wildcard Certificates: Secure unlimited subdomains under a single domain
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Multi-Domain (SAN/UCC) Certificates: Secure multiple domains and subdomains with one certificate
This flexibility makes it a suitable choice for businesses of all sizes—from solo developers to enterprise-scale IT teams.
Transparent and Competitive Pricing
With plans starting at approximately $36.75 per year, SSL.com offers one of the most affordable SSL solutions without compromising on quality or support. Volume discounts and multi-year plans further drive down the total cost of ownership, making it a budget-friendly upgrade from outdated providers.
Automation and ACME Protocol Support
SSL.com is built for modern DevOps workflows. It supports the ACME protocol, enabling full certificate lifecycle automation—from issuance to renewal and revocation. This helps reduce manual effort, human error, and downtime, especially for large-scale or containerized deployments.
Universal Trust and Compatibility
SSL.com’s root certificates are trusted by all major browsers, operating systems, and mobile platforms, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Windows, Android, and iOS. Whether you’re securing a website, mail server, or API endpoint, your users will not encounter trust warnings.
High Warranty Coverage
All SSL.com certificates come with generous warranties—up to $2 million depending on the certificate type—providing financial protection in the rare event of certificate mis-issuance or CA failure.
24/7 Customer Support and Easy Management
Users benefit from round-the-clock support via chat, phone, and email, alongside a clean and intuitive user interface for managing certificates. The SSL.com dashboard allows for easy reissues, renewals, and installations, streamlining certificate administration even for non-technical users.
Bottom Line:
For businesses seeking a modern, trustworthy, and highly compatible SSL provider, SSL.com is a superior alternative to Symantec-branded legacy certificates. With its blend of affordability, automation, reliability, and customer support, it meets the demands of today’s security-first digital environment.
Other Popular Symantec SSL Alternatives
If you’re moving away from Symantec-branded SSL certificates due to trust issues, high cost, or the shift to DigiCert infrastructure, there are several reputable providers to consider—each with its own strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases.
Below is a comparative breakdown of trusted alternatives that serve different business needs:
DigiCert
DigiCert is often considered the successor to Symantec in the enterprise SSL space. Following the acquisition of Symantec’s SSL business, DigiCert inherited a wide range of clients and has continued to build a reputation for security excellence.
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Strengths:
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Premium-grade certificates, including DV, OV, EV, and multi-domain options
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High-speed validation and issuance for enterprise users
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Trusted by 90%+ of Fortune 500 companies
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Limitations:
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Pricing is at the top of the market
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May be overkill for small websites or personal projects
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Best For: Large enterprises, government entities, and SaaS platforms needing scalable, high-assurance SSL solutions
Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA)
Sectigo offers a broad SSL/TLS certificate portfolio at very competitive pricing, making it a popular choice among startups and SMEs.
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Strengths:
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Wide range of DV, OV, EV, wildcard, and SAN certificates
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Affordable pricing with multi-year discounts
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Moderate automation support
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Limitations:
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Customer support and UI are not as streamlined as premium providers
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ACME automation support is partial and evolving
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Best For: Small to mid-sized businesses looking for reliable SSL without the high cost
GoDaddy SSL
GoDaddy is widely known in the domain registration and hosting space and offers SSL certificates through its user-friendly platform.
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Strengths:
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Straightforward certificate ordering and installation process
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Ideal for users already hosting with GoDaddy
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Limitations:
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Renewal costs are significantly higher than competitors
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Lacks support for ACME automation or advanced DevOps integration
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Best For: Beginners, small business owners, and users who prioritize ease of use over advanced features
Entrust
Entrust has long been a trusted name in identity and security solutions, with a strong presence in government and regulated industries.
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Strengths:
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Exceptional validation processes and compliance protocols
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Recognized for security in high-assurance environments
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Limitations:
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Higher pricing tiers
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Slower issuance times compared to newer providers
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Best For: Government agencies, large enterprises with strict compliance needs, and critical infrastructure applications
Let’s Encrypt
Let’s Encrypt is a free, open Certificate Authority (CA) run by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG). It focuses solely on domain-validated (DV) certificates.
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Strengths:
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Free of cost and widely supported
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Fully automated issuance and renewal via ACME protocol
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Limitations:
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Only offers DV certificates—no OV or EV support
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Certificates expire every 90 days and require regular renewal
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No direct customer support
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Best For: Developers, non-commercial websites, staging environments, personal blogs, and small projects
SSL Provider Comparison Table
| Provider | SSL Types | Starting Price | ACME Support | Warranty | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSL.com | DV, OV, EV, Wildcard | ~$36.75/year | ✅ | Up to $2M | Best overall choice |
| DigiCert | DV, OV, EV, Wildcard | ~$218/year | Partial | Up to $2M | Large enterprises |
| Sectigo | DV, OV, EV, Wildcard | ~$7.27/year | Partial | Up to $1.5M | Cost-conscious organizations |
| GoDaddy | DV, OV, EV | ~$63/year | ❌ | Up to $1.5M | Small businesses |
| Entrust | DV, OV, EV | ~$120/year | ❌ | Up to $1.75M | Regulated industries |
| Let’s Encrypt | DV only | Free | ✅ | None | Non-commercial projects |
How to Transition from Symantec SSL to a Trusted Modern Provider
With Symantec-branded SSL certificates no longer trusted by major browsers since their deprecation in 2018, migrating to a modern, reliable Certificate Authority (CA) is crucial for maintaining website security and user trust. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you safely switch from Symantec SSL to a more current and supported SSL provider like SSL.com or others:
1. Confirm Your Current SSL Certificate’s Expiration Date
Begin by identifying the expiration date of your existing Symantec-issued certificate. This can be done using:
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Your web hosting control panel
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Browser SSL inspection (padlock > Certificate > Validity)
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Online tools like SSL Labs or Why No Padlock
If the certificate has already expired, you should migrate immediately to avoid browser trust warnings.
2. Select a Trusted SSL Provider
Choose a provider with up-to-date trust chains, fast issuance, and full browser compatibility. Look for:
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Trusted root CA status
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Full certificate portfolio (DV, OV, EV, Wildcard, SAN)
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Automation options (ACME support)
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Competitive pricing and renewal policies
Recommended: SSL.com, DigiCert, or Sectigo for businesses; Let’s Encrypt for developers needing free DV certs.
3. Generate a New Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
You’ll need to create a new CSR on your server, containing your public key and domain details. This step is necessary for certificate validation and issuance by the new provider.
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Use OpenSSL, cPanel, or your server software (e.g., Apache, NGINX, IIS)
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Keep your private key secure and never share it
4. Install the New SSL Certificate
Once validated and issued, install the new certificate files (CRT, CA bundle) on your server or through your hosting provider’s SSL manager.
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Replace all old references to the Symantec certificate
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Ensure proper installation of the root and intermediate certificates for chain of trust
5. Test HTTPS Functionality and Trust Chain
After installation, verify that your SSL setup is fully functional and trusted:
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Use tools like SSL Labs, Qualys, or your browser’s certificate viewer
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Confirm there are no trust warnings, mixed content issues, or chain errors
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Check for proper HTTPS redirects and HSTS if applicable
6. Revoke or Remove the Old Symantec Certificate
To ensure no conflicts or duplicate certificates:
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Remove old certs from the server
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Revoke the old Symantec certificate (optional but recommended)
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Update your certificate records and notify your IT or security team
7. Monitor SSL Status Continuously
Use SSL monitoring tools or security scanners to stay informed:
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Set up automatic SSL expiration reminders
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Monitor for trust chain updates, misconfigurations, or revocation issues
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Enable ACME-based auto-renewal if supported by your new provider
Final Tip: Make the switch well before expiration to allow ample time for testing, validation, and issue resolution. Transitioning away from Symantec SSL is not just about avoiding browser errors—it’s about protecting user data and maintaining your site’s integrity in an evolving security landscape.
Conclusion: Choose a Trusted SSL Provider for a Secure Future
The deprecation of Symantec SSL certificates by major browsers marked a significant turning point in the SSL/TLS ecosystem. This shift forced businesses and website owners to seek out trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs) that offer modern encryption, full browser compatibility, and better support for automation and scalability.
SSL.com emerges as the top alternative—providing a full range of DV, OV, EV, Wildcard, and Multi-Domain certificates at competitive prices, along with ACME protocol support, high warranty coverage, and responsive 24/7 support. It’s especially ideal for organizations looking for a balance of affordability, security, and automation.
That said, depending on your organization’s size, budget, and compliance needs, other reputable providers like DigiCert, Sectigo, Entrust, or Let’s Encrypt may also be suitable options.
➡️ The right SSL provider can enhance your site’s trustworthiness, performance, and security posture—so choose wisely. Make sure the provider you select aligns with your technical, operational, and strategic goals for long-term web security.
FAQs: Symantec SSL Alternatives
Q1. Why are Symantec SSL certificates no longer trusted by browsers?
Major browsers like Chrome and Firefox distrusted Symantec-issued SSL certificates starting in 2018 due to concerns over improper certificate issuance. This forced Symantec to sell its SSL business to DigiCert.
Q2. What happened to existing Symantec SSL certificates after the browser distrust?
Symantec certificates were reissued through DigiCert’s infrastructure. However, website owners needed to manually replace their original certificates to maintain browser trust and avoid security warnings.
Q3. Is it still safe to use a Symantec-branded SSL certificate in 2025?
No. Symantec SSL certificates are no longer issued independently. Most have either expired or been migrated under DigiCert’s brand. It’s recommended to switch to a modern CA like SSL.com or DigiCert.
Q4. What is the best replacement for Symantec SSL in 2025?
SSL.com is widely recommended due to its competitive pricing, full certificate portfolio (DV, OV, EV, Wildcard, Multi-Domain), automation support via ACME, and 24/7 support.
Q5. How do I replace a Symantec SSL certificate on my site?
You should back up your existing certs, purchase a new SSL from a trusted provider, complete domain or organization validation, install the new certificate, and revoke the old one.
Q6. Does switching from Symantec affect SEO or browser trust?
Yes. If you continue using an expired or deprecated Symantec certificate, it can trigger security warnings, decrease user trust, and impact search engine rankings. Switching to a trusted CA improves site credibility.
Q7. Are there free alternatives to Symantec SSL certificates?
Yes. Let’s Encrypt offers free DV SSL certificates, ideal for developers or small websites. However, they don’t include OV/EV validation or warranty protection.
